Marriage Certificate Apostille in Delaware

Delaware Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Delaware Secretary of State
• Office Location: Dover
• State Fee: $30
• Important Rule: Expedited service available for an additional fee.

What Is a Marriage Certificate Apostille?

An apostille is a type of government certification created under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Unlike standard document certification, an apostille is accepted by all 124 Hague member countries — meaning your Marriage Certificate is recognized by international authorities without additional authentication. For residents of Delaware, obtaining this certification requires working with the Delaware Secretary of State.

An important point is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. Many countries require a notarized translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities routinely ask for the apostille plus a sworn translation. Ask us about comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.

The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the old multi-step embassy legalization process that was required before the Convention. Previously, getting a US document recognized abroad involved notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The apostille replaced this with a single certificate from the appropriate government office. In Delaware, the designated office is the Delaware Secretary of State.

Delaware: State vs Federal Authority

When timelines are tight, rush processing is available in many cases. Some state offices provide same-day service for in-person deliveries. Our courier takes advantage of in-person processing by submitting in person rather than by mail, getting you the fastest possible turnaround from Delaware.

The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about getting a Marriage Certificate apostilled is knowing which office processes your specific document type. In the US, there are two parallel systems: state and federal. Documents issued by Delaware, including Marriage Certificates go to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. Federally issued records, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.

For documents issued by Delaware government agencies, the apostille can only be issued by the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover. In most cases, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The Delaware Secretary of State reviews the document's seals and signatures and attaches the apostille typically in 1 to 3 weeks.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

Beyond notaries, local government offices in Delaware do not have apostille authority. Even a trip to the Delaware city hall, county courthouse, or register of deeds will not produce an apostille. The only office in DE that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover.

If you are working under a tight deadline, relying on postal mail to the Delaware Secretary of State is risky. Using a physical runner is the only way to access same-day processing at the Delaware Secretary of State. Our courier service handles Delaware-area pickups and submissions with full FedEx tracking and insurance on every submission.

First-time applicants in Delaware mistakenly believe they can obtain Hague legalization through any notary in DE. This is incorrect. A local notary can only witness signatures and verify identity. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — that authority belongs exclusively to.

The Delaware Apostille Authority

When the Delaware Secretary of State receives your Marriage Certificate, an authorized state officer reviews the document and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. Once verified, the apostille is issued as a separate certificate appended to your document. The completed document is then returned by mail. Our courier collects it same-day or next-day.

The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times for mail-in submissions generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on submission backlog. If you are in Delaware and need it faster, a physical courier gets the apostille in 2 to 5 business days.

Before your document can be submitted to the Delaware Secretary of State: some documents require prior notarization. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits often must be notarized before the Delaware Secretary of State will apostille them. We identifies whether any notarization is needed before starting the submission so there are no delays from missing prerequisites.

How to Get Your Marriage Certificate Apostilled in Delaware

Getting a Marriage Certificate apostilled requires a clear sequence of steps. First: confirm that your document is the original or a certified copy. Step two: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Step three: send it to the correct authority along with the applicable state fee. Fourth: collect the completed apostille — ready for any Hague member country.

One of the most overlooked steps is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. FBI Background Checks, for example, have a shelf life of six months or less at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your document is past its useful window, a new document must be requested before submission to the Delaware Secretary of State. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.

Some document types require notarization before they can be apostilled. If your Marriage Certificate is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, a notarization is usually required by a licensed notary before the Delaware Secretary of State will accept it. We handles this coordination so you never have to navigate this alone.

How Long Does a Marriage Certificate Apostille Take in Delaware?

Knowing where your Marriage Certificate is is a key advantage of a physical courier over postal mail. We provide real-time tracking at each step: initial pickup, arrival at our processing hub, submission to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover, apostille issuance notification, and dispatch of the return shipment to Delaware. This level of visibility is unavailable with standard postal submission.

Processing times for apostille certification depend on the submission method and current government backlog. Mail-in submissions from Delaware to the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover usually require 3 to 6 weeks round trip — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, particularly during visa application seasons, wait times can extend further.

For Delaware residents in a rush, the most time-efficient route is a courier service that physically delivers to the Delaware Secretary of State. Many Delaware Secretary of State offices process walk-in submissions same-day. Our runner capitalizes on this to return apostilled documents to Delaware within a business week.

What to Include With Your Submission

The Delaware Secretary of State's fee of $30 is required. Forms of payment differ at each Delaware Secretary of State but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. We includes fee payment in our all-in-one courier package so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.

One detail that matters: if your Marriage Certificate was issued in a language other than English, some Delaware Secretary of State offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the apostille is issued without requiring a translation and the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. We advise you on this when you submit your request.

Before sending your document to the Delaware Secretary of State, make sure you include: your original Marriage Certificate or an official certified copy, any required notarization, the Delaware Secretary of State's request form if applicable, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid FedEx or USPS return. Missing any of these will result in your documents being returned unprocessed.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

Sending original documents through standard postal mail without insurance is a significant risk. Uninsured postal shipments are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are sometimes time-consuming and costly to replace. We ship all documents via FedEx for maximum protection from the moment we receive your document to its return to Delaware.

Submitting a photocopy instead of the original document is a common rejection reason. The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover will only apostille documents with an authentic original seal and signature. Sending a photocopy will be returned immediately. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before starting the apostille process.

Forgetting to include return shipping is a simple but common mistake. The Delaware Secretary of State in Dover will not return your document without a prepaid return method. Without a prepaid return envelope, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. We handle return shipping as part of our flat-rate fee — no separate arrangements needed.

Get Your Marriage Certificate Apostilled in Delaware

Our courier network covers the Delaware Secretary of State in Dover, typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.

Frequently Asked Questions — Marriage Certificate Apostille in Delaware